Okay. I bought this game today (And paid an eight pound steam premium to download it tonight rather than wait two days for a copy from Amazon) and: IT’S AWESOME!
I’m only a couple of levels in and already I’m gripped. The plot has unfolded fast enough to keep me hooked, but there’s enough being kept back to keep me wanting to play more to find out what’s going on. There are many improvements over the original game, the new hacking method is more realistic (in that combat doesn’t stop whilst you’re hacking); dual wielding of your powers and a weapon makes the games so much easier; the outdoors portions are gorgeous; combat has many new features (Trap rivets are so. much. fun. and add new dimensions to combat which makes the game different) Being a big daddy changes things also: Killing splicers is easier, but to combat that, the waves they attack in are bigger. The little sister harvest/rescue mechanism seems more balanced, but more play is required to support that conclusion! The graphics are better, the soundtrack is still creepy as hell, and I still jump at shadows!
The atmosphere is just fantastic. Bioshock one is up there as one of the best games ever, and the sequel appears to be living up to it!